Means for operating electric switches and other mechanism



Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,427

A. H. BRAUER MEANS FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC SWITCHES AND OTHER MECHANISM I Filed April 30, 1927 wen Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. BRAUER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO PUMP COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC S'WKTCI'IES AND OTHER MECHANISM.

Application filed April 30, 1927.

This invention relates to means for operat ing switches and other mechanism, and the principal object is to provide novel, automatically operating mechanism, interposed between a reciprocatory actuating member and a member to be actuatedthereby, for alternately permitting" a minimum and a maximum amount of lost motion between the two members, before operative connection is established between them, whereby the actuating member may travel through a minimum distance or a maximum distance before becoming effective for the purpose of actuating the actuated member, and consequently may actuate the actuated member only on the alternate strokes of the actuating member when moved through a distance equal to the length of the maximum amount of lost motion, but may also actuate it during the intermediate strokes if moved through a distance greater than the maximum amount of lost motion.

Mechanism of this kind is serviceable in many situations and may be used wherever required. It is particularly serviceable for controlling the operation of two electric motor operated centrifugal pumps, such as are used for ejecting liquid from a well, tank or other receptacle where thedesideratum is to operate the pumps alternately under normal conditions, and also in unison in case the inflow to the well or tank exceeds the capacity of one pump.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction of mechanism of the character to minimize the number of parts thereof, to cheapen and to otherwise improve thereon. With these and other objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a simple embodiment of the invention applied to a float controlled switch lever operating device for one of a pair of motor operated centrifugal pumps. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are side elevations of the mechanism embodying the subject matter of this specification, upon an enlarged scale and showing several positions occupied by the parts thereof at various positions of the float rod; Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 8 and Fig. 7 is a Serial No. 187,957.

detail horizontal section taken on line 77 of Fig. 2;

Referring to said drawing, and first to Fig. 1, the reference character 10 designates the switch lever of an electric switch for controlling the operation of an electricmotor of a centrifugal pump. The member 10 may constitute any member which requires actuation by a reciprocating element.

When the mechanism is used for operating a switch lever as above set forth, a float rod 11 is employed which has a float 12 secured on its lower end, and contained in a well. tank or other receptacles into which liquids empty and from which they are to be ejected bythe pump. In such apparatus the desideratum is to start a pump and eject the liquid when the liquid in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level. The float rod 11 has means for engaging the switch lever to thereby actuate the switch lever, and usually buttons or collars 13, 14, secured to the float rod, are used for this purpose.

The rod 11 is composed of two sections 11 11 guided to move in parallel relation to each other, and having a minimum and a maximum amount of lost motion between them, whereby the section 11 may move through a minimum predetermined distance before becoming effective for the purpose of moving the upper section, or may move through a maximum distance before becoming effective, and having automatic means for changing the effective length of stroke in alternate fashion or in any other sequence of operation. The mechanism illustrated for accomplishing the result will now be described.

Secured upon one of the rod sections, for instance upon the lower section 11" is an arm 15, which is pivotally mounted on said rod section, as for instance by a pin 16, and said arm has a hook like finger 17 which is adapted to engage with a pin, lug, shoulder orother connecting member 18, on the other rod section 11*, when held in one position, whereby the two rod sections will be connected together so as to move as a unit, and having a second position wherein the finger may move idly past the member 18 without engaging it whereby the lower rod section may move through a maximum distance before becoming effective for the purpose of operating the switch lever. In the form of the invention illustrated, one of the rod sections has a pin,

lug, shoulder or other projection 19 secured to it which rides in a slot 20 formed in the other rod section and said pin is arranged to engage with the ends of the slot for the purpose of transmitting motion from one rod section to the other. As shown the slot is of such length that the one rod section may move through a maximum distance before the pin becomes effective in transmitting motion from one rod section to the other.

The arm 15 is capable of rocking or oscillating uponits support, and a spring 21 is provided for yieldin ly holding said' arm in its two positions. baid spring is shown in the form of a coiled tension spring, one end of which is fastened on'a pin 22 located above the arm 15 and secured in the lower rod section 'with the finger end of the arm in position to effectively engage the connecting member or topass idly by.

A stop pin 24 is provided on the rod section 11 in position to engage the arm 15 when held in inactive positions as shown infull lines in Fig. l, and a yielding arrangement is provided between the connecting member 18 and finger 17, whenever the arm descends and is set for engagement with said connectin member. Conveniently this yielding arrangement may be obtained by providingapin 25 on the arm 15 in position to engage with the side of the coiled spring 21 (see Figs. 2 and 5) when the finger end of the arm is held uppermost. Movement of the arm past the connecting member in a downward direction, when held in this position, is permitted because the pin 25 is merely pressed against the side of the spring as the fingerpasses the connecting member 18. Said pin 25 also acts to limit the upward movement of the arm 15 when the finger end thereof is drawn upward by the spring. On the rod section 11 is an arm setting pin or projection 26 which is arranged to be engaged by the tail end 27 of the arm 15 whenever the rod section 11 is moved upward through its maximum amount of predetermined movement as limited by the slot 20, to thereby set the arm for engagement with the connecting member 18 on the neXt following upstroke of the rod. Moreover, if desired, a second connecting member 28 may be provided at the upper limit of the maximum lost motion between the two rod sections, for engagement with the finger 17 as a substitute for or an addition to the connection provided for by the pin 19 and lower end of the slot 20.

The two red sections are shown as having a sliding connection with each other, the rod section 11 having grooves or guide ways 29 formed therein in which slide ribs formed on the rod section 11 In the operation of the mechanism, and assuming the parts to be in the position indi-' cated in full line in Fig. 2, where the entire rod'is at the lower end of its stroke, upward movement of the lower rod section l1 first brings the hooked end of the finger 17 of the arm 15 into effective engagement with the connecting member 18 (see dotted lines Fig. 2) thus connecting the upper rod'section with the lower section, and during the remainder of the upward movement of the lower rod section, the upper section is moved therewith as a unit. A minimum amount of lost motion is thus provided between the two rod sections, whereby when the rod has been moved through a predetermined distance, its upper end becomes effective for the purpose in tended. For instance when used to operate a switch lever for an electric motor driven pump, when the water raises the float to a predetermined high level the button 14 on the float rod engages the switch lever 10 raises it and closes the switch to the pump motor.

In Fig. 3 the rod is shown in full lines at the top of its stroke, with the arm 15 in eifective engagement with the connecting member18. During the initial downward movement of the lower rod section, the spring 21 pulls upward on the tail end 27 of the arm 15, bringing it into engagement'with the stop pin 24, and holding the finger 17 out of alignment with the connecting member 18 (see dotted lines Fig. The lower rod member continues to move downward with the arm in this position until the upper end'of the slot 20 engages with the pin 19 whereupon both rod members are again connected together and move down in unison until the button or collar 13 engages with the switch lever at the bottom of the down stroke of the rod and opens the switch, thereby stopping the pump motor. This position of the rod is seen in Fig. 4. On the succeeding upstroke of the rod the finger 17 idly passes by the connecting member 18, since it is held out of alignment therewith as above set forth and as the lower rod section approaches the upper limit of its maximum amount of lost motion, the tail end 27 of the arm 15 encounters the setting pin 26 (see dotted lines in Fig. l) and the arm is therefore swung into itseffective position, and at the extreme upper limit of its maximum amount of lost motion the lower end of the slot 20 encounters the pin 19. In cases where two pumps and two float rods equipped with mechanism as above described are used, the other float rod at this time will have closed the switch for the other pump motor, and started its pump thereby emptying the tank. As the lower rod section 11 now descends the finger 17 passes by the connecting member 18 (see dotted lines in Fig. 5) and the lower rod section continues to descend until the parts assume the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2, whereupon both rod sections descend as a unit. The upstroke just described has been an idle one, since the up per rod section was not lifted or at least was not lifted sufficiently to cause it to close the switch. However if the pump which was started during said upstroke of the two float rods, did not eject the liquid as rapidly as it accumulated, and the liquid continued to rise, the lower section of the inactive float rod would be lifted beyond its normal upper limit thereby lifting the upper section with it and closing the switch of the associate pump motor thereby causing both motors to operate in unison.

From the above it is evident that the two rod sections have a minimum and a maximum amount of lost motion between them, before they become effectively connected to move in unison, and that under normal conditions the two sections are effectively connected to move in unison on the alternative up strokes only.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Mechanism for transmitting motion from a reciprocatory actuating member to an actuated member, comprising an arm movably mounted on one member and having yielding means for holding the same in active position, a coacting connecting element mounted on the other member and lying in the path of movement of said arm and arranged to be engaged thereby whenever the latter occupies its active position, said co-acting element acting to move said arm toward its inactive position, and means mounted on and moving with said other member for setting said arm into active position.

2. Mechanism for transmitting mot-ion from a reciprocatory actuating member to an actuated member, comprising an arm movably mounted on one member and having an active and an inactive position, a co-acting connecting member mounted on the other member and lying in the path of movement of said arm and arranged to be engaged thereby whenever the latter occupies its active po sition, automatic means mounted on and moving with said actuating and actuated members for alternately setting said arm into active and inactive positions, and yielding means for holding said arm in active and inactive positions.

3. Mechanism for transmitting motion from a reciprocatory actuating member to an actuated member, comprising an arm movably mounted on one member, and having an active and an inactive position, a co-acting connecting member moiuited on the other member, and lying in the path of movement of said arm and arrangec to be engaged thereby whenever the latter occupies its active position, automatic means mounted on and moving with said actuating and actuated members for alternately setting said arm into active and inactive positions, said arm when in active position, and the connecting member forming a long stroke connection between said actuating member and actuated member, and a second means for connection between said actuating and actuated members which is made operative when said arm is in inactive position, and forms a short stroke connection for the actuated member.

4. Mechanism for transmitting motion from a reciprocatory actuating member to an actuated member, comprising an arm movably mounted on one member and having an active and an inactive position, automatically operating means for alternately setting said arm in its active and inactive positions, and two spaced connecting members mounted on the other member in position for engagement with said arm when the latter is in its active position, one of said arm setting means being located at a point intermediate said connecting members, whereby said arm is set into active position after passing one of said connecting members.

5. Mechanism for transmitting motion from a reciprocatory rod section to a second reciprocatory rod section, comprising an arm fulcrumed upon the first mentioned rod section and having an active and an inactive position, a shoulder upon the second mentioned rod sect-ion lying in the path of movement of said arm and arranged to be engaged thereby when the latter occupies its active position, whereby a long stroke connection is afforded between said rod sections, said shoulder comprising means for moving said arm toward inactive position out of alignment with said shoulder whereby the arm may pass idly by said shoulder, and means on the second named rod section for setting said arm into active position after passing idly by said shoulder, whereby it is in active position for engagement with said shoulder upon a subsequent stroke of the first mentioned rod section.

6. Mechanism for transmitting motion from a reciprocatory rod section to a second reciprocatory rod section, comprising an arm fulcrum'ed upon the first mentioned rod section, and having an active and an inactive position, a shoulder upon the second mentioned rod section lying in the path of movement of said arm and arranged to be engaged thereby when the latter occupies its active position, whereby a long stroke connection is afiorded between said rod sections, said shoulder forming means for moving said arm toward inactive position out of alignment with said shoulder whereby the arm may pass idly by said shoulder, means on the second named rod sec tion for setting said arm into active position after passing idly bysaid shoulder, and a lost motion connection bet-ween said rod sections )perating to connect the two rod sections when the arm is set in its inactive position.

7. Mechanism for transmitting motion from a reciprocatory actuating member to an actuated member, comprising an arm fulcrumed on said actuating member and having an active and an inactive position, a co-acting pin mounted on the other member and lying in the path of movement or" said arm and arranged to be engaged thereby whenever the latter is in its active position, a coiled spring secured to said actuating member and arm arranged to yieldingly hold said arm in its active and inactive positions, and arm setting means mounted on and moving with said actuating and actuated members or auto matically setting said arm into its active and inactive positions. i

8. Mechanism for transmitting motion from a reciprocatory actuating member to an actuated member, comprising an arm tul crumed on said actuating member and having an active and an inactive position, a co-act-ing pin mounted on the other member and lying in the path of movement of said arm and arranged to be engaged thereby whenever the latter is in its active position, a coiled spring secured to said actuating member and arm arranged to yieldingly hold said arm in its active and inactive positions, arms setting means mounted on and moving with said actuating member and actuated member for automati cally setting said arm into its active and inactive positions, and a second connecting means between said members which becomes effective when the arm is set in inactive position.

ARTHUR H. BRAUER. 

